Under the Radar Animated/Anime Shows
by hellraiser7 | created - 30 Nov 2018 | updated - 15 Jul 2020 | PublicOur childhoods were rich with many animated shows to this day are timeless classics. But some others despite a few having popularity at the time and some not enough, all fell though the cracks of time or just simply don't get enough attention. For any fan of the genre and those seeking more vintage animation or just something different, these are under the radar gems worth uncovering.
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1. Exosquad (1993–1995)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi
Set in the beginning of the 22nd century, an interplanetary war wages between humanity and the Neosapiens.
Stars: Stevie Vallance, Campbell Lane, Robby Benson, Garry Chalk
Votes: 1,276
2. Phantom 2040 (1994–1996)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Crime
The 24th Phantom, the 'Ghost Who Walks,' battles crimes in the future of 2040.
Stars: Scott Valentine, Margot Kidder, J.D. Hall, Jeff Bennett
Votes: 713
3. The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982–1983)
TV-Y7 | 28 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A trio of kids must search throughout 16th Century South America for personal answers linked to the legendary El Dorado.
Stars: Janice Chaikelson, Adrian Knight, Michael Rudder, Terrence Labrosse
Votes: 4,275
4. Gunbuster (1988–1989)
PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a gigantic robot as a key point of Earth's defense during a space war.
Stars: Noriko Hidaka, Rei Sakuma, Norio Wakamoto, Maria Kawamura
Votes: 2,013
5. Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–2003)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A teen acrobat of mysterious origins and a young inventor find themselves entangled in a sinister plot that involves the fate of the world.
Stars: Noriko Hidaka, Nathan Parsons, James Arnold Taylor, Guy Roberts
Votes: 2,045
6. Planetes (2003–2004)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi
Ai Tanabe joins the Debris Section of the Technora Corporation as they work to remove the debris left around Earth. As Ai tries to accommodate to space life, she learns more about her crew on the dilapidated 'Toy Box'.
Stars: Kazunari Tanaka, Satsuki Yukino, Ai Orikasa, Kirk Thornton
Votes: 3,930
7. Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994–1995)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
It is the year Future Century 60 and most of humanity has migrated to orbiting space colonies, leaving behind the polluted Earth. To prevent war, the colonies came up with the tournament ... See full summary »
Stars: Mark Gatha, Tomokazu Seki, Matt Embry, Jonathan Love
Votes: 1,138
8. Ulysse 31 (1981–1982)
TV-Y7 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
To return home and restore his cursed crew, a great hero of space and his child companions must find the Kingdom of Hades against all evil opposition.
Stars: Mayumi Tanaka, Matt Birman, Sumi Shimamoto, Masane Tsukayama
Votes: 2,379
9. Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea (1985–1987)
TV-Y7 | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
An underground civilization named Arkadia launches an expedition for exploring the world of the surface to restore its fading sun.
Stars: Jeanine Forney, Christian Bénard, Amandine Rajau, Louis Arbessier
Votes: 796
10. Conan the Adventurer (1992–1993)
TV-Y7 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Young Cimmerian barbarian Conan and his allies must stop snake-man wizard Wrath-Amon and his snake-men army from resurrecting evil serpent god Set. Conan must also destroy the evil wizard's ring that turned his family into stone.
Stars: Michael Donovan, Michael Beattie, Scott McNeil, Doug Parker
Votes: 1,492
11. The Pirates of Dark Water (1991–1992)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young man learns that he is a Prince with an urgent quest to save his world by finding thirteen magical treasures of rule.
Stars: Hector Elizondo, Frank Welker, George Newbern, Jodi Benson
Votes: 2,879
12. Mighty Max (1993–1995)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Max, a twelve-year-old boy, finds a magical cap that can teleport him across dimensions.
Stars: Rob Paulsen, Tony Jay, Richard Moll, Corey Burton
Votes: 2,033
13. Thundarr the Barbarian (1980–1981)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Thundarr the Barbarian and his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel wander a devastated future Earth and fight evil wherever they find it.
Stars: Henry Corden, Robert Ridgely, Nellie Bellflower, Dick Tufeld
Votes: 1,805
14. Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993–1995)
TV-PG | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In a world of anthropomorphic felines, two demoted fighter pilots battle evil as high flying masked vigilantes.
Stars: Barry Gordon, Charlie Adler, Gary Owens, Tress MacNeille
Votes: 4,784
15. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002–2004)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
On the planet Eternia, a young prince gains the ability to become a powerful warrior to defend Castle Grayskull against the dark lord Skeletor.
Stars: Cam Clarke, Garry Chalk, Scott McNeil, Brian Dobson
Votes: 3,609
16. Thundercats (2011–2012)
TV-PG | Animation, Action, Adventure
After his home kingdom is destroyed by the ancient devil priest Mumm-Ra, the young Thundercat Lord Lion-O leads a team of survivors as they fight evil on Third Earth.
Stars: Will Friedle, Matthew Mercer, Kevin Michael Richardson, Emmanuelle Chriqui
Votes: 7,609
17. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993–1994)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The adventures of the human survivors in a future dinosaur dominated world.
Stars: David Keeley, Susan Roman, Bruce Tubbe, Dawn Greenhalgh
Votes: 478
18. Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993–1999)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
The popular cult horror comic books from the 1950s are adapted in this cartoon anthology series.
Stars: John Kassir, Elizabeth Hanna, David Hemblen, Stuart Stone
Votes: 1,560
19. Extreme Ghostbusters (1997)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Several years after the events of the original show and the movies, Dr. Egon Spengler agrees to help a group of his young students re-form the Ghostbusters under his mentorship.
Stars: Tara Strong, Maurice LaMarche, Jason Marsden, Alfonso Ribeiro
Votes: 3,330
20. Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (1987)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The planet Prysmos - post-technological loss. Two groups rise to dominance from the devastation to wage war upon each other. One is controlled by honest and law-abiding people and the other... See full summary »
Stars: Susan Blu, Roscoe Lee Browne, Peter Cullen, Jim Cummings
Votes: 1,286
21. Peter Pan and the Pirates (1990–1991)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
The adventures of Peter Pan and his friends as they face off against Captain Hook and his crew of pirates in Neverland.
Stars: Christina Lange, Michael Bacall, Debi Derryberry, Jason Marsden
Votes: 718
22. Mummies Alive! (1997–1998)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In present day US, a kid releases four ancient Egyptian mummy warriors who help him fight a revived Egyptian evil mummy sorcerer who wants to take over the world.
Stars: Scott McNeil, Dale Wilson, Graeme Kingston, Cree Summer
Votes: 1,500
23. InHumanoids (1986)
30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A team of human subterranean explorers and their allies are the surface's main defence against evil invading monsters.
Stars: Michael Bell, William Callaway, Dick Gautier, Ed Gilbert
Votes: 462
24. Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (1985–1986)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young man leads a small band in search of his father while fighting the forces of Sawboss using the various vehicles they carry with them.
Stars: Darrin Baker, Len Carlson, Dan Hennessey, Charles Jolliffe
Votes: 1,639
25. C.O.P.S. (1988–1989)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Crime
A team of specially enhanced policemen fights crime in the year 2020.
Stars: Ken Ryan, Jane Schoettle, Brent Titcomb, Mary Long
Votes: 1,539
26. Centurions (1986)
TV-Y7-FV | 30 min | Animation, Action, Family
The adventures of a unit of elite soldiers who wear special frames that accept various weapons and transportation equipment teleported from a space station.
Stars: Pat Fraley, Neil Ross, Vince Edwards, Ron Feinberg
Votes: 2,172
27. BraveStarr (1987–1989)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A Native American marshal and his friends keep the peace on the frontier planet of New Texas.
Stars: Pat Fraley, Susan Blu, Erika Scheimer, Lou Scheimer
Votes: 3,217
28. The New Adventures of He-Man (1990–1991)
30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The sequel series to He-Man, taking place 10,000 years into the future. Prince Adam is brought from the past to protect the Planet Primus from the evil mutants led by Floog and Skeletor.
Stars: Don Brown, Garry Chalk, Ted Cole, Tracy Eisner
Votes: 661
29. Dino-Riders (1988)
Not Rated | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Pursued by intergalactic warlord Krulos and his Rulons, human Valorians fly through a wormhole and end up on the prehistoric Earth. Krulos follows and becomes stuck in prehistory as well. Both sides build dinosaur armies and engage.
Stars: Stephen Dorff, Christopher Collins, Wally Burr, Dan Gilvezan
Votes: 1,429
30. Dinosaucers (1987)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Two factions of warriors from outer-space crash land on Earth; a good one in light blue armor and an evil one of red dinosaurs in dark blue armor . The good join forces with several Earth ... See full summary »
Stars: Len Carlson, Rob Cowan, Marvin Goldhar, Dan Hennessey
Votes: 773
31. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990–1991)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The further time travelling adventures of those two most excellent dudes.
Stars: Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, Maurice LaMarche, George Carlin
Votes: 1,908
32. Double Dragon (1993–1994)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A animated TV series based on the first Double Dragon video game.
Stars: Jim Byrnes, Garry Chalk, Michael Donovan, Scott McNeil
Votes: 332
33. King Arthur and the Knights of Justice (1992–1994)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
When the real King Arthur and his knights are captured by Morgana, Merlin casts a spell to bring an American football team called The Knights led by Arthur King to the past to help free the... See full summary »
Stars: Garry Chalk, Scott McNeil, Jim Byrnes, Mark Hildreth
Votes: 572
34. Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars! (1991–1992)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Galactic hero Bucky O'Hare and his brave crew battle the evil toads bent on conquering the universe. A young boy genius from the human universe joins Bucky's crew.
Stars: Garry Chalk, Scott McNeil, Shane Meier, Sam Vincent
Votes: 895
35. BattleTech: The Animated Series (1994– )
Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
Based upon the strategy war game and set during events in the Blood of Kerensky Trilogy by Michael Stackpole, a small independent unit lead by Maj. Adam Steiner fights their way to their ... See full summary »
Stars: Peter Spellos, Sean Bushe, Doug Lee, Roxxy Dakota
Votes: 131
36. Invasion America (1998)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Short, Action
A young crossbreed human and alien fights to keep both of his worlds from going to war. His father, an alien (Tyrusian) emperor and his mother, a human, are both missing, and the young man ... See full summary »
Stars: Mikey Kelley, Tony Jay, Thom Adcox-Hernandez, Greg Eagles
Votes: 413
37. Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles (1999–2000)
PG | 778 min | Sci-Fi, Animation, Action
The missions of a Mobile Infantry squad as they participate in a war of survival against a ferocious alien insectoid invader.
Stars: Nicholas Guest, Bill Fagerbakke, Alexander Polinsky, James Horan
Votes: 2,276
38. Biker Mice from Mars (1993–1996)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
When three alien motorcycle riding mice are forced to leave their home planet of Mars thanks to the evil mining Plutarkians, they rebel against their enemies on planet Earth and the city of Chicago.
Stars: Dorian Harewood, Rob Paulsen, Ian Ziering, Leeza Miller McGee
Votes: 4,921
39. Godzilla: The Series (1998–2001)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Crime
In this direct sequel to the 1998 Godzilla movie, Dr. Nico Tatopoulos leads a team, known as H.E.A.T, to battle giant monsters with the help of Godzilla's only living offspring.
Stars: Ian Ziering, Malcolm Danare, Rino Romano, Charity James
Votes: 2,860
40. Aladdin (1994–1995)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Aladdin, the clever hero of Agrabah, continues his adventures with the help of his fiancee Princess Jasmine, his pet monkey Abu, Magic Carpet, Iago the greedy parrot, and of course his best friend the semi-cosmic Genie.
Stars: Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Dan Castellaneta, Frank Welker
Votes: 12,952
41. Skeleton Warriors (1994– )
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Prince Lightstar leads the Legion of Light against Baron Dark - once a man, now an evil skeleton lord - and his army of skeletons. Dark's goal is to capture the Crystal that powers the world and Lightstar must stop him.
Stars: Jeff Bennett, Nathan Carlson, Philip L. Clarke, Michael Corbett
Votes: 371
42. Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1975)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.
Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei
Votes: 8,184
43. Count Duckula (1988–1993)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a vegetarian vampire duck and his servants.
Stars: Barry Clayton, Jack May, Brian Trueman, David Jason
Votes: 4,229
44. Tron: Uprising (2012–2013)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In the computer world of the Grid, a young program joins Tron's fight against their world's tyranny.
Stars: Elijah Wood, Tricia Helfer, Charlie Bean, Elizabeth Ho
Votes: 8,828
45. Mega Man (1994–1995)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Based on the video game series, the robot Mega Man and his dog Rush battle the creations of his father, the scientist Dr. Light, who were corrupted by Light's former partner Dr. Wily and his minions, in an attempt to take over the world.
Stars: Ian James Corlett, Scott McNeil, Jim Byrnes, Terry Klassen
Votes: 1,142
46. Pac-Man (1982–1984)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of the video game character and his family.
Stars: Marty Ingels, Barry Gordon, Barbara Minkus, Chuck McCann
Votes: 572
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